The time has come! The time has come! Do
you hear? The earth is casting you out.
There is no place for you on earth. No! He
is coming! I see him! He is coming, the
free man! He is being born in the flames!
He himself is fire and resolution! An end to the
earth of slaves!

TONY

Savva, shut up!

SAVVA (bending down to Tony)

Be prepared! He is coming! Do you hear his
tread? He is coming! He is coming!

CURTAIN

THE FOURTH ACT

Near the monastery. A broad road crosses the
stage obliquely. On the far side of the road
is the river, beyond which opens a wide prospect of
the surrounding country—­meadows, woods,
and villages, with the crosses of the churches burning
in the sun. In the distance, at the right, where
the mountain projects over a glistening bend of the
river, is seen a part of the walls and the towers of
the monastery. On the near side of the road is
a hilly elevation covered with trampled grass.
It is between five and six in the morning. The
sun is out. The mist over the meadow is scattering
slowly.

Now and then a pilgrim or group of pilgrims may be
seen hurrying by on their way to the monastery.
Wagons carrying cripples and other monstrosities pass
along the road. The noise of thousands may be
heard from the monastery. The crowd is evidently
moved by some joyous emotion. No individual voices
are heard, but it is as if one could feel the singing
of the blind, the cries, and the quick, glad snatches
of conversation. The general effect is that of
an elemental force. The noise decreases at regular
intervals, like a wave, and then the singing of the
blind becomes distinctly audible.

Lipa and the Young Friar appear on the near side of
the road: Lipa is sitting on the hillock, dressed
as she was the night before, but her head is covered
with a white scarf carelessly tied. She is exhausted
with joy and almost dropping off to sleep. The
Friar stands near her. On his face there is a
troubled, vacant look. His movements are irresolute
and aimless. He tries to smile, but his smile
is twisted and pitiful. He is like a child who
feels hurt without knowing the cause._

LIPA (untying her scarf)

Heavens, but this is splendid! I should like
to die here. I can’t get enough of it.
Oh, it’s splendid, it’s splendid!

FRIAR (looking around)

Yes, it is splendid. But I can’t stand
it in there. I can’t. They push and
jostle and press and jam. They crushed the life
out of one woman, absolutely crushed her. She
had a child with her. I couldn’t look at
it. I—­I’ll go to the woods.